Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday said the social media company is putting an end to its fact-check program and replacing it with a community-driven system akin to that of Elon Musk's X. Zuckerberg cited the election as underlying the decision, calling it a "cultural tipping point towards, once again, prioritizing speech." Zuckerberg made the announcement in a video. The changes will impact Meta platforms Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
History of Meta's Fact-Check Program
Meta introduced its fact-checking program in 2016 as part of an effort to curb misinformation. The initiative was launched in response to criticism over Facebook's role in spreading false claims during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. A 2023 statement from Meta said the fact-checking program had "expanded to include nearly 100 organizations working in more than 60 languages globally."
Recent Developments
The announcement came a day after Meta said former Ultimate Fighting Championship chief executive Dana White, a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump, would join its board, and shortly after former UK deputy prime minister Nick Clegg announced he was stepping down as president of global affairs.
Impact on Social Media Users
The changes will impact Facebook and Instagram, which have billions of users. This shift towards a community-driven system raises questions about the spread of misinformation and the role of social media platforms in determining what content is accurate.
Meta, CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, fact-check program, community-driven system
